“Virtual Office” “Remote Worker” “Satellite” “Off Site” “Telecommuting” “iworkers, eworkers or Web Workers” “Portable Professionals” “Digital Nomads” “Non-Cubical Dwellers”
There are many names for the increasing number of professionals working in a nontraditional office setting.
According to a GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com 2016 survey:
- 50% of the US workforce holds a job that is compatible with at least partial telework and approximately 20-25% of the workforce teleworks at some frequency.
- 80% to 90% of the US workforce says they would like to telework at least part time. Two to three days a week seems to be the sweet spot that allows for a balance of concentrative work (at home) and collaborative work (at the office).
- Fortune 1000 companies around the globe are entirely revamping their space around the fact that employees are already mobile. Studies repeatedly show they are not at their desk 50-60% of the time.
Our company has recently moved to a less office-centric model to provide more flexibility in scheduling, work-life balance, which frees up commute time that is now used to assist our clients and candidates. With more companies moving to a flexible model, we thought it would be helpful to share a few of our best practices and some epic fails as we live, learn and laugh at the transition.
Best Practices:
- Routine – Just as you would get up, get ready and drive to work in the past, you should implement a similar routine let’s say: get up, make the bed, shower, dress and move into your remote office space. Routine becomes the key to successful transition. Stick to your routine, no shortcuts!.
- Dedicated space – Have a dedicated space for your work where you can focus and be free of distractions. Sharing space or being transient doesn’t work well for most.
- Work in blocks of time – Don’t try to get your entire production done in an hour. Block time and take breaks. Get up and move around; it makes a difference.
Epic Fails:
- Don’t skimp on technology. Have the proper technology and systems in place to work efficiently as if you were in the traditional office setting. Your internet speed and phone system will be your life line.
- Manage Time. routine tasks, now completed outside office, like data entry and support functions now need to be planned.
These are just a few of the “Ah Ha” moments we’ve found. For more tips, you can check out one of my favorite websites http://workingnaked.com. In short, schedule flexibility, increased productivity and lower stress levels are just a few of the great benefits of this system. If you can avoid the pitfalls these benefits can make a significant impact on your quality of life.
If you, or anyone you know, are looking to make a move or transition your career, any of our experienced recruiters are here to help or provide information.
Karen Walding-Zuntych, Manager Business Development, Whitaker Technical